Bad news on
soprano scene -
first Carlotta,
now Christine!
Still, at least
the seats get sold
gossip's worth
its weight in gold . . .

What a way to
run a business!
Spare me these
unending trials!
Half your cast disappears,
but the crowd still cheers!
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel -
It's a scandal that'll
pack 'em in the aisles!

(ANDRE bursts in, in a temper)

ANDRE

Damnable!
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!

FIRMIN

Andre, please don't shout . . .

It's publicity!
And the take is vast!
Free publicity!

ANDRE

But we have no cast . . .

FIRMIN (calmly)

But Andre,
have you seen the queue?

(He has been sorting mail on his desk. Finding the two letters from the PHANTOM)

Oh, it seems
you've got one too . . .

(He hands the letter to ANDRE, who opens it and reads):

ANDRE

"Dear Andre
what a charming gala!
Christine enjoyed a great success!
We were hardly bereft
when Carlotta left -
otherwise
the chorus was entrancing,
but the dancing was a
lamentable mess!"

FIRMIN (reading his)

"Dear Firmin,
just a brief reminder:
my salary has not been paid.
Send it care of the ghost,
by return of post
P.T.O.:
No-one likes a debtor,
so it's better if my
orders are obeyed!"

FIRMIN AND ANDRE

Who would have the gall
to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain!

FIRMIN (examining both letters)

These are both signed "O.G." . . .

ANDRE

Who the hell is he?

BOTH (immediately realizing)

Opera ghost!

FIRMIN (unamused)

It's really not amusing!

ANDRE

He's abusing
our position!

FIRMIN

In addition
he wants money!

ANDRE

He's a funny
sort of spectre . . .

BOTH

. . . to expect a
large retainer!
Nothing plainer -
he is clearly quite insane!

(They are interrupted by the arrival of RAOUL, who
brandishes another of the PHANTOM'S notes)

RAOUL

Where is she?

ANDRE

You mean Carlotta?

RAOUL

I mean Miss Daae -
where is she?

FIRMIN

Well, how should we know?

RAOUL

I want an answer -
I take it that you sent me this note?

FIRMIN

What's all this nonsense?

ANDRE

Of course not!

FIRMIN

Don't look at us!

RAOUL

She's not with you, then?

FIRMIN

Of course not!

ANDRE

We're in the dark . . .

RAOUL

Monsieur, don't argue -
Isn't this the
letter you wrote?

FIRMIN

And what is it, that we're
meant to have wrote?

(Realizing his mistake)

Written !
(RAOUL hands the note to ANDRE, who reads it)

ANDRE

"Do not fear for Miss Daae.
The Angel of Music
has her under his wing.
Make no attempt to see her again."

(The MANAGERS look mystified)

RAOUL

If you didn't write it, who did?

(CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter, which has cheered her no more than the others)

CARLOTTA

Where is he?

ANDRE

Ah, welcome back!

CARLOTTA

Your precious patron -
where is he?

RAOUL

What is it now?

CARLOTTA (to RAOUL)

I have your letter -
a letter which I
rather resent!

FIRMIN (to RAOUL)

And did you send it?

RAOUL

Of course not!

ANDRE

As if he would!

CARLOTTA

You didn't send it?

RAOUL

Of course not!

FIRMIN

What's going on . . .?

CARLOTTA (to RAOUL)

You dare to tell me,
that this is not the
letter you sent ? !

RAOUL

And what is it that I'm
meant to have sent?

(RAOUL takes the letter and reads it)

"Your days
at the Opera Populaire are numbered.
Christine Daae
will be singing on your behalf tonight.
Be prepared
for a great misfortune,
should you attempt
to take her place."

(The MANAGERS are beginning to tire of the intrigue)

ANDRE AND FIRMIN

Far too many
notes for my taste -
and most of them
about Christine!
All we've heard since we came
is Miss Daae's name . . .

"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the
most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be
run. You have not followed my instructions.
I shall give you one last chance . . ."

PHANTOM'S VOICE (taking over)

Christine Daae has returned to you,
and I am anxious her career
should progress.
In the new production of "Il Muto",
you will therefore cast Carlotta
as the Pageboy, and put Miss Daae
in the role of Countess.
The role which Miss Daae plays
calls for charm and appeal.
The role of the Pageboy is silent -
which makes my casting,
in a word
ideal.

I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in
Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should
these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your
imagination will occur.

1 Comment

General CommentTHIS SONG IS CALLED Notes.../Prima Donna. LEARN THE NAMES THE SONGS PEOLE! THE ONLY SONGS WITH THEIR REAL NAMES IN THIS SIGHT FOR PHANTOM IS ANGLE OF MUSIC, ALL I ASK OF YOU AND THINK OF ME! EVEN THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ISN'T UP UNDER IT'S REALL NAME! CHECK IT!